The Great Gas Race for Building Automation Sensors
Date: 14 November 2011

IMS Research’s latest report “The EMEA and Americas Markets for Building Automation Controllers, Software and Sensors – 2011 Edition” forecasts double digit growth, in shipments, of air quality and gas sensors used for demand based ventilation within buildings over the next five years.

Buildings are increasingly becoming air tight which causes a reduction in the air quality. Higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) can cause drowsiness and create an inefficient working environment. Most traditional ventilation systems ventilate for the maximum capacity of the room whether occupied or not. By using gas sensors to determine the number of people in the room, the ventilation system can ventilate appropriately and efficiently.

William Rhodes, Market Analyst at IMS Research commented, “Demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) is not a new phenomenon but has certainly seen a substantial increase in usage over the past 18 months. As governments and businesses look to generate energy savings, it is likely that DCV will continue to gain traction in the coming years and become the de facto standard for ventilation systems.”

The most common building automation sensor used for DCV is CO₂. IMS Research estimated over 850,000 CO₂ sensors were used in building automation systems across EMEA and the Americas in 2010. The use of CO₂ building automation sensors for DCV is forecast to see double digit growth over the coming five years. However, some vendors have started to advocate the use of volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors as an alternative to CO₂ as an efficient method of DCV.

Rhodes continues, “There are definite advantages of using VOC sensors for DCV. VOC sensors can pick up odors and smells that CO₂ would have otherwise missed. However, following extensive research, the general industry consensus is that VOC is an expensive solution and that it is not as effective as CO₂ for DCV. VOC sensors are likely to be increasingly used for DCV, but mainly installed in kitchens and within or around toilets where they can detect organic compounds, including odors and smells.”

Results from the EMEA and Americas markets for building automation controllers, software and sensors – 2011 edition show that although steady growth is forecast for building automation temperature, humidity, pressure and occupancy sensors, growth from air quality sensors will be much faster over the coming years.

 

For more information please contact:

Europe

William Rhodes

William.rhodes@imsresearch.com Tel:+44 1933 402 255

 

Follow us on twitter @IMSresearch

Editors Note :

About The EMEA and Americas Markets Building Automation Controllers, Software and Sensors – 2011 Report
This report describes the current state of the market and highlights the opportunities and challenges the market will face in the coming years. The report is the most detailed of its kind, with numerous analyses by product type, systems size, end-user industry and country. The current competitive environment is also analysed with the presentation of market shares.

About IHS Inc. (www.ihs.com)

IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of information, insight and analytics in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 165 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS employs more than 5,600 people in more than 30 countries around the world.

About IMS Research:

About IMS Research
IMS Research is a leading independent supplier of market research and consultancy to the global electronics industry, offering syndicated market studies, custom research and consultancy services. Clients include most of the household names in the industry. IMS Research has offices in Europe, the US, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. To find out more, contact IMS Research: enquiries@imsresearch.com; T: +44 (0) 1933 402255; http://imsresearch.com

Related Reports

Building Automation Controllers, Software and Sensors – EMEA – 2011

Building Automation Systems Integration and Aftermarket – EMEA and Americas – 2012 Edition

Building Automation Controllers, Software and Sensors – Americas – 2011

Building Automation Controllers, Software and Sensors – EMEA and Americas – 2011